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On the way to our study site, we cross this one area where we commonly find Mohave/diamondback crosses. I mean, we find perfect examples of each and everything inbetween, to totally wierd combinations of each.

Mind you, they are natural and in a very natural setting, no farms and such, just desert.

So, because they do this naturally, are they pure?

I think I confused myself. Cheers

And I'd like to see some pics. Don't know if I've seen a scut/atrox cross. If it can be found in nature, then it's pure to me.

Great question Frank! Its been a little while since I posted on here but its always good to see your posts. Tell us more about this natural hybrid. Sounds interesting! Are these common out your way? Love to see some pic's of those guys. Here's a photo of a horridus we found yesterday. Back east we are always discussing whether or not horridus is composed of separate ssp's or not. Some would call this a canebrake while others would call it a timber rattlesnake. Fact is we see so much variation here we're not sure what to call it lol! One things for sure, snakes as they occur in nature are sure interesting!

Phil

Hey Phil, nice pure horridus. I call 'em horridus 'cause it sounds cool! Down here in east Texas they are known as canebrakes. Seen some scute/atrox in Brewster county last year and more than a few.
Todd Hughes

There are many things which could be considered pure. The word, like all words is only meant to tell part of a story. The eskimos supposedly have dozens if not hundreds of words to describe snow. We (I use the term loosely) often have one word with many meanings. Why can't people understand that when we say pure there are common usages and uncommon usages, strict interpretations and loose ones but generally we all know the loosest interpretation and we can use the word as a starting point for further discussion and clarification on a case by case basis.
To answer your question I think they are a pure experssion of natures ways, evolution and adaptation in action. They are also not pure in the sense that sometimes nature has acted to make the parent forms into distingushable animals.

Well they are crotes and they are similar and overlap in range so it happens with much frequency much like splendida and calis in, say, southern Arizona? and mbk's? It is natural, so it is pure and the offspring are viable so not hybrid. All Lamps, right? I don't think most people realize how common scute/atrox is and sometimes it is reeeeeely hard to tell what it is.
Todd Hughes

I do not have pics, hahahaha, but its your fault. OK, not exactly yours, My partner is a grad from Texas A&M. I told him of this and we both checked them out. He also explained that he found a population around marfa or ft. davis, or some nearby area that had the same crosses. He send some or one to Texas A&M and had them verified.

I do not know what became of that. But in this one area, about 15 miles across, these crosses are very common, to a point of its hard to find normal atrox or normal mohaves.

Last summer I was going to our vinesnake site, when I found a really good cross. It was 4 1/2 feet, Total atrox head pattern, large head scales, green in color, with perfect diamonds, and a marbled tail. Whats even worse, I had my camera but failed to take a pic. Most of the crosses are not so blatant. That is, they appear to be odd atrox or odd mohaves.

But to compare those to typical atrox or mohaves from down the road, they are out of character.

For instance, the other day, I was in the low grasslands between the Canelo hills and the patagonias. I found a mohave, oh what a perfect mohave. I had to call my friend over to show him what a mohave is suppose to look like. You see, he is commonly with me when we find all those goofy Motroxs. Cheers

Hey Frank,

Close indeed. The population of scute/atrox crosses I told you about was south Brewster County. I have seen them there in high numbers for over 25 years. I have deposited quite a few into the permanent collections at Texas A&M and UTEP. They are found all over down there, right next to keyable normal atrox and scutulatus.

Of course this is not news to you, nor is it uncommon. They can be found in AZ too, as well as atrox/molossus. Wild hybrids are not unusual. In most cases, you just have to pay attention to what is right in front of you. The great majority of the atrox / scute combos I have seen in Texas look like atrox until you try to key them.

Later!!

yes, simple it happened w/o anyones MANipulation.
Todd Hughes